If you’re unsure whether your Greensburg residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend consulting with a professional like Wallpe Heating & Cooling about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by everyday household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a severe health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in large concentrations.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is operating properly. This work allows our pros to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Wallpe Heating & Cooling Experts

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 812-663-7252 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you find the best option for your family and budget.